Canvas-stretching device



Dec. 12, 1961 s. BLINDERMAN CANVAS-STRETCHING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1960 [4 l4 INVENTOR BY .4dmmfizzwsw,

g ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,012,362 CANVAS-STRETCHING DEVICE Seymour L. Blinderman, Chalker Beach Road, Old Saybrook, Conn.

Filed Apr. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 25,019 Claims. (Cl. 45-130) This invention relates to a device for steering canvas on frames by means of adjusting the sides and ends of the frames so as to tighten and maintain in taut position a canvas secured to the sides of the frame.

Usually artists employ a rectangular frame to which they tack the canvas upon which their work is to be performed. It is not only difiicult to secure the canvas to the frame under proper tension, but changes in the weather will affect the canvas and cause it to become slack. Therefore, it is desirable to have means to spread the members of the frame in the direction of both the length and breadth of the frame so as to maintain the canvas in taut condition.

As illustrated, the frame is of substantially rectangular form and the stretching devices are provided at the corners thereof. In the event that the length of the frame is such that a central strip or brace is necessary, the same stretching device may be employed in connection with this central brace.

Each of the stretching devices or brackets consists of two sections disposed at substantially right angles with a portion of one section overlapping the adjacent portion of the other section. Means are provided in the form of a pin and slot in the overlapping portions of the sections to secure them together in this relation but permitting adjustment or spreading thereof while maintaining them substantially at right angles.

Each of the sections consists of an angle bracket or member having a body portion and a flange, the adjacent ends of the body portions overlapping. Upon one of the body portions a shoulder is provided by displacing the metal of the section upwardly, which shoulder extends diagonally of the longitudinal axis of the section, and the adjacent end of the body portion of the other section is mitered to fit against this shoulder. This construction, together with the pin and slot connection, holds them normally at right angles to each other with the adjacent ends of the flanges in juxtaposition as illustrated. These edges of the flanges are provided with facing recesses through which may be inserted a wedge member which is driven between the ends of the frame members to spread them apart. This connection between the two sections of the brackets will result in the frames being spread in both directions so that the ends and sides of the frame still remain at right angles to each other, the members of the frame being spread until the canvas is taut.

One object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for stretching the canvas upon a frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improved corner or angle brackets for a frame upon which a canvas is to be stretched, these brackets comprising two members or sections adjustably secured together and normally positioned at right angles to each other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bracket of the character described wherein each of the sections comprises a member of angle form in cross section preferably formed of sheet material, the sections being secured together in substantially right angular relationship, the securing means permitting adjustment of the sections relatively to each other while maintaining the angular relationship between them.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a bracket as previously described wherein the bracket is provided with guiding means to receive a wedge to spread Patented Dec. 12, 1961 ice the adjacent members of the frame to which the two sections are secured.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a canvas frame having secured thereto brackets embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one .of the brackets detached from the frame;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the wedge member employed to spread apart the two members of the frame between which it is driven or inserted;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the construction of the bracket members at their point of connection;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one corner of the frame showing the canvas stretched thereon; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

To illustrate my invention there is shown in the drawing a canvas frame which, as illustrated, comprises end members '10 and 11 and side members 12 and 13, which members are secured together to form an open rectangular structure. The corners of the frame members are in this instance mitered, as shown at 14, but could be butted if desired.

Secured at each corner of the frame is my improved bracket which, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of two sections 15 and 16. Each of these sections consists of a piece of sheet material bent into angular shape, the member 15 comprising a body portion 17 and a flange 18. The inner end of the body portion 17 may be mitered, as indicated at 19.

The other section 16 also is of angular form comprising the body portion 20 and the flange 21. Adjacent the junction of the two sections the material of the body portion 20 is displaced upwardly to provide a shoulder 22 extending diagonally of the body 20 and providing a triangular end portion 23 which overlaps the body 17 of the other section. The beveled edge 19 of this other section normally abuts the shoulder 22.

The triangular overlapping portion 23 of the member 20 is provided with an elongated slot 24 extending at sub stantially right angles to the shoulder 22 and a headed rivet 25 secured to the body 17 of the section 15 is received in this slot to secure the two sections together. As shown in FIG. 4, this slot 24 is tapered toward its outer end but its width at its inner end adjacent the rivet 25 in the position shown in FIG. 4 fits snugly about this rivet so as to hold the beveled edge 19 of one section against the shoulder 22 of the other section so that the parts will normally lie at right angles to each other. The taper of the slot 24 is such, however, that when the members of the frame are driven apart, as will be later explained, the rivet may be forced toward the outer end of the slot 24 even though the slot is slightly tapered.

The flange 18 is provided at its inner edge with a recess 27 and the flange 21 with a facing recess 28 which register with each other, as shown in FIG. 2, so that they may receive the edge of the wedge member 30 shown in FIG. 3 after the bracket has been secured to the frame. Each of the body members 17 and 20 of the sections is provided with openings 31 through which screws or similar fastening members may be inserted to secure the sections to the under side of the frame, as shown in FIG. 1. As will be seen, the body members 17 and 20 lie flatly against the outer faces of the frame members while the flanges 18 and 21 lie snugly against the inner edges thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the canvas 32 may be stretched over the upper surface of the frame and secured at the outer edges of the face members by securing members 33.

When the canvas has been secured to the frame the latter may be in the position shown in FIG. 1 in which the mitered edges '14 of the frame members are in substantial contact. If the canvas is not properly stretched, the wedge members 30' may be driven between the mitered edges of the frame members, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, these members entering through the recesses 27 and 28 in the flanges 18 and 21.- It will be understood that these recesses are of sufficient size so that they will allow free entry of the wedge members so that the insertion of these members will be limited by the stretching of the canvas and not by the ends of the recesses.

As the wedges are driven in, the sections of the bracket will be spread apart but the angle between them substantially maintained by reason of the fact that the slots 2's, are substantially at right angles to the' shoulders 22, thus permitting adjustment of the two sections of the bracket in both longitudinal and transverse directions. As a result the frame members will be spread apart at the corners of the frame, as shown in PEG. 5, the edge 19 having separated to some extent from the shoulder 22 and the pin 25 having moved outwardly toward the smaller end of the slot 24. The frame members will then be retained in this position with the canvas stretched tightly thereover.

If the frame is of suflicient length so that it is necessary to use a center member or brace 34, the same brackets may be used at each end of this brace, the brackets being placed on one side of the brace at one end and on the other side at the other end, as shown in FIG. 1. The wedges 39 will be driven between the inner edges Of the frame members 12 and 13 and the abutting ends of the member 34 which will spread the central portion of the frame in a transverse direction or in the direction of the length of the member 34.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the'details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame consisting of side and end members, said bracket comprising two sections disposed at substantially right angles, one to the other, each of said sections comprising a length of sheet material having a body portion to overlie and be secured to an outer face of one of the adjacent frame members and a flange extending at an angle to the body portion to abut the inner edge of the frame member, means for securing said sections together in overlapping relation for relative adjustment while maintaining them in their angular relationship, and means for spreading said frame members.

2. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame consisting of side and end members, said bracket comprising two sections disposed at substantially right angles, .one to the other, each of said sections comprising a length of sheet material having a body portion to overlie and be secured to an outer face of one of the adjacent frame members and a flange extending at an angle to the body portion to abut the inner edge of the frame member, means for securing said sections together in overlapping relation for relative adjustment while maintaining them in their angular relationship, and means passing between said flanges to spread apart the frame members to which the sections are secured.

,3. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame consisting of side and end members, said bracket comprising two sections disposed at substantially right angles, one to the other, each of said sections comprising a length of sheet material having a body portion to overlie and be secured to an outer'face of one of the adjacent frame members and a flange extending at an angle to the body portion to abut the inner edge of the frame member, means for securing said sections together in overlapping relation for relative adjustment while maintaining them in their angular relationship, the inner edges of the flanges of said sections being juxtaposed and being provided with facing open-ended recesses, and means passing through said recesses to spread apart the frame members to which the sections are secured.

4. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame consisting of side and end members, said bracket comprising two sections disposed at substantially right angles, one to the other, each of said sections comprising a length of sheet material having a body portion to overlie and be secured to an outer face of one of the adjacent frame members and a flange extending at an angle to the body portion to abut the inner edge of the frame member, means for securing said sections together for relative adjustment while maintaining them in their angular relationship, the body portion of one section overlapping that of the other section and being formed with a shoulder extending diagonally thereof and the edge of the other portion abutting said shoulder, and means to spread apart the frame members to which the sections are secured.

5. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame consisting of side and end members, said bracket comprising two sections disposed at substantially right angles, one to the other, each of said sections comprising a length of sheet material having a body portion to overlie and be secured to an outer face of one of the adjacent frame members and a flange extending at an angle to the body portion to abut the inner edge of the frame member, means for securing said sections together for relative adjustment while maintaining them in their angular relationship, said means comprising a diagonally extending shoulder formed on the body portion of one section, the end of the other section abutting said shoulder with adjacent portions of said sections in overlapping position, one'section having a slot extending at substantially right angles to said shoulder and the other having a member snugly received in said slot. 7

6. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame, said bracket consisting of two sections, each comprising an angle piece of sheet material having a body portion and a flange, means for securing said sections together in substantially right angular relationship with the end of the body portion of one section overlapping that of the other section, said one section being provided with an abutment extending diagonally across the body portion thereof against which shoulder the end of the other section abuts, said securing means being adjustable to permit spreading of said sections, and a wedge member passing through the adjacent edges of the flanges of the sections.

7. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame, said bracket consisting of two sections each comprising an angle piece of sheet material having a body portion and a flange, means for securing said sections together in substantially right angular relationship with the end of the body portion of one section overlapping that of the other section, said one section being provided with an abutment extending diagonally across the body portion thereof against which shoulder the end of the other section abuts, said securing means being adjustable to permit spreading of said sections, said flanges being provided with matching recesses in the adjacent edges thereof, and a wedge member adapted to be received in said recesses.

8. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame, said bracket consisting of two sections, each comprising an angle piece of sheet material having a body portion and a flange, means for securing said sections together in substantially right angular relationship with the end of the body portion of one section overlapping that of the other section, the material of the body portion of one section being displaced outwardly to provide a diagonally extending shoulder adjacent said overlapping portions against which shoulder the end of the other section abuts, said securing means including a slot in the overlapping portion of one member and a pin in the other member received in said slot, and a wedge member passing through the adjacent edges of the flanges of the sections.

9. A bracket forstretching canvas on a frame, said bracket consisting of two sections, each comprising an angle piece of sheet material having a body portion and a flange, means for securing said sections together in substantially right angular relationship with the end of the body portion of one section overlapping that of the other section, the material of the body portion of one section being displaced outwardly to provide a diagonally extending shoulder adjacent said overlapping portions, the end of the other section being mitered to abut said shoulder, said securing means being adjustable to permit spreading of said sections, and a Wedge member passing through the adjacent edges of the flanges of the sections.

10. A bracket for stretching canvas on a frame, said bracket consisting of two sections, each comprising an angle piece of sheet material having a body portion and a flange, means for securing said sections together in substantially right angular relationship with the end of the body portion of one section overlapping that of the other section, the material of the body portion of one section being displaced outwardly to provide a diagonally extending shoulder adjacent said overlapping portions, the end of the other section being mitered to abut said shoulder, said securing means comprising a pin and slot connection in said overlapping portions of the sections to permit spreading thereof, and a Wedge member passing through the adjacent edges of the flanges of the sections.

fieierences Qite-d in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,731 Bryant Sept. 25, 1849 424,695 Cope Mar. 25, 1890 1,562,153 Elbern NOV. 17- 1925 

